1.
Maintaining and reusing in tourism
accommodation construction in
Baixo Tâmega Valley
Jorge Pinto, Isabel Bentes, Cristina Reis, Paula Luísa, Sandra Pereira,
Zięba Zofia, Anabela Paiva

2.
Introduction
• Fortunately, the rehabilitation of the Portuguese city centres is
already a reality.
• And it is also reaching the rural areas.
• In fact, interesting rehabilitation processes have been occurring in
these areas.
• The Baixo Tâmega Valley is one of these areas, and is getting more
attention in terms of tourism.

3.
a)Vilarinho b)VilaBoadeQuires c)VilaBoadeQuires

4.
Introduction
• In a rehabilitation process, it is a good building practice to keep, as
possible, the traditional: materials, elements, technics, colours and
finishing types, among other practices.
• Generally, a traditional rural building in this region is characterised by
having a simple architectural solution, often having two floors.
• Granite, timber and ceramic tiles are the primary building materials.
In Most of the cases granite and timber are local.
• These types of traditional buildings are resilient.

5.
Introduction
• The building industry is responsible for considerable environmental
impacts due to its consumption of resources and energy and the
production of wastes.
• Circular Economy, can significantly improve the sustainability of this
sector.

6.
Introduction
• The development and use of alternative construction materials,
• the development of circular business models,
• smart cities,
• Industry 4.0 and their relations with Circular Economy,
• are the current research hotspots that may be considered as potential
research topics.

7.
Introduction
• The Circular Economy paradigm proposes to change the current
production and consumption pattern of "take-make-dispose" that
threatens the sustainability of human life on earth and is approaching
the planetary boundaries.
• Steps in this direction require closing the loops by reusing wastes and
resources
• and slowing material loops by developing long-lasting, reusable
products.

8.
Introduction
• Deconstruction also encompasses various environmental, social and
economic benefits, and can be more cost-effective than conventional
demolition.
• Deconstruction, unlike demolition, generates high quality low cost
reusable materials for many applications.

9.
Some rehabilitation processes in this region
• There are already several tourism accommodation complexes in the
Baixo Tâmega Valley.
• Most of them are based on wine farms and in traditional rural
buildings.

10.
Some maintaining and reusing building practises
• In general, the granite masonry walls
are maintained.
• Additional granite units may be
required and reusing may be an
option.
• Granite masonry walls, timber
pavements, roofs, tabique partition
walls and ceramic tiles can be kept
and partially repaired when required.
• The rainwater drainage system of the
roof can be kept and upgraded by
reusing old ones, in the example by
one made from copper and purchased
locally.

11.
Some maintaining and reusing building practises
• Traditional steel gates can be
also reused.
• A structural reinforcement was
done by reusing a steel profile as
a column.
• Second-hand kitchen cabinets
are also possible to use in a
rehabilitation process.

12.
Some maintaining and reusing building practises
• Traditional steel gates can be
also reused.
• A structural reinforcement was
done by reusing a steel profile as
a column.
• Second-hand kitchen cabinets
are also possible to use in a
rehabilitation process.

13.
Some maintaining and reusing building practises
• Traditional steel gates can be
also reused.
• A structural reinforcement was
done by reusing a steel profile as
a column.
• Second-hand kitchen cabinets
are also possible to use in a
rehabilitation process.

14.
Examples of used building materials and
components available in the local market
• A wide range of used building
materials and components are
available in local markets.
• In general, they result from the
renovation or demolition of
building processes.
• Certain companies operate in this
sector.
• Timber elements such as beams or
boards that resulted from
demolitions are also available.

15.
Examples of used building materials and
components available in the local market
• Structural elements such as
profiles, bars, trusses, stairs,
sheets, and grills, among other
elements can also be found.
• When the steel structure
connection is bolted, the
respective elements tend to
present an almost intact state of
conservation.

16.
Some considerations
• Maintaining and reusing rehabilitation building practices may
contribute to protecting traditional building solutions.
• As it was stated above, there is already an implemented market of
used building materials and components.
• If this type of company is local, it is even more appealing.

17.
Some considerations
• On the other hand, there are several limitations and concerns
regarding this type of material or components:
• the quantities, and the deterioration of the used building component
(geometrical and material)
• These limitations can be solved depending on the scale of the
rehabilitation process.
• In fact, the limitations of the quantity may be less critical when
rehabilitating a single building.

18.
Conclusions
• The trend of rehabilitation has already arrived in rural and low-
density population areas.
• Dwellings are some of the buildings that have been under this type of
building process.
• Some of them have been transformed into tourism accommodations.
• It has been occurring an increasing interest in rural tourism.

19.
Conclusions
• There has been concerns in maintaining the traditional building in
these rehabilitation processes.
• Fortunately, respect in terms of heritage has been occurring.
• In some cases, a part of maintaining and reusing building materials or
components has also been noticed.
• This building practice main be economically advantageous and may
contribute to a more sustainable building behaviour.
• Several companies are already operating in the used materials
market, and a wide range of options is also available.

20.
Thank you very much for your attention!